Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, June 20, 2009 - China and the
Netherlands played their third World League match of the year at the brand new
Omnisports in Apeldoorn on Saturday, with the Dutch prevailing in straight sets
(26-24, 28-26, 25-20).

The last duel between the No. 10 and No. 28 teams in the
FIVB world rankings was in 2005.

In the first and second set, little separated the two
teams and the 4,500 people in attendance enjoyed two exciting closing phases.
In the third set, the Dutch had more breathing room, closing the frame five
points ahead.

China stayed just ahead of the Netherlands early on
thanks in particular to some excellent defending. An amazing save from Chinese
libero Ren kept the ball in play for a Chinese kill at 9-11, but a hammering
spike from Robert Horstink brought the Dutch another point. The score was level
for the first time at 15-15 and the team of Peter Blangé reached the second
technical timeout leading for the first time. Horstink made the difference in
the final phase of the opening set and even though the Chinese came back to tie
it at 24-24, the 'flying Dutchman' Horstink and a Chinese ball out of bounds
gave the set to the home team.

In the second set, the men in orange started better and
led by two points at the first technical time out. Wytze Kooistra was not
playing at his best and was substituted by Lars Lorsheijd at 7-6. The Chinese
accelerated their play and, with Cui Jianjun playing a key role, evened the
score at 11-11. The Dutch fought hard for every point, resulting in a
three-point lead (18-15), prompting Chinese coach Zhou Jianan to call for a
time out. It had the desired effect, and when the tallest man on Dutch side,
Kay van Dijk, smashed into the Chinese block, the score was even again at
19-19. A tactical shot from Rob Bontje gave the lead back to the Netherlands
(22-21). Blangé brought on supersub Jeroen Rauwerdink for team captain Jeroen
Trommel at 22-22 and Rauwerdink immediately scored. Trommel, playing his 200th
international match, was brought back in at 24-24 and an exciting closing phase
followed. A perfect block from setter Yannick van Harskamp and Bontje awarded
the second set to the Netherlands.

In the third set, China appeared a bit broken mentally,
allowing the Dutch to take a quick lead of four points (8-4, 11-7, 12-8). China
managed to reorganize themselves and after a good block on Horstink at 13-11,
Blangé called his team to the sidelines. China, ahead thanks to the sweet
serves of Zhong Weijun, evened the score at 15-15, but the Dutch pushed ahead
by the second technical time out. Another well-placed tactical shot from
Trommel was a problem for the Asian defense, making Jianan call another timeout
at 17-15. The two-point lead of the home team was preserved up to 21-19, when
Blangé temporarily brought Tije Vlam on for Van Harskamp to strengthen the
Dutch block. Van Dijk spiked his team to a four-point lead (23-19) with an
unstoppable smash through the center. A smash out of bounds by the Chinese
ended the match, prompting the enthusiastic Dutch crowd to give their players a
standing ovation.